JUNEAU POLICE DEPARTMENT
6255 ALAWAY AVENUE JUNEAU, ALASKA 99801
Business (907) 586-0600
Fax (907) 463-4808
Integrity, Courage, Service, Respect
INFORMATION RELEASE
Date: 2021-10-06
From: Lieutenant Krag Campbell
Case or Incident: #211005-005
*** Updated 10/12/2021 ***
The Alaska Medical Examiner's Office has identified the body found near the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal as that of 48-year-old Oregon resident, Joseph Michael Clayton. Clayton was reported missing on 08/21/2021, after not returning from a hike in the Auke Lake area. Next of kin has been notified.
***************************
On 10/06/2021, at about 1:00 PM, the Juneau Police Department received a report from an employee with Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT), that they had found a deceased person in the woods across from the area of the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. DOT reported being in the area to check on downed trees, due to the recent storm in Juneau. JPD responded to investigate and CCFR assisted with the recovery due to the steep terrain.
The body was located within 100 feet of Glacier Highway, up a steep embankment. In the area where the body was located, there was an old makeshift campsite that looked to have predated the time the body would have been there. JPD Detectives collected clothing and other items located near the campsite with hopes to help identify the body. The body appears to be of a male, but identification cannot be made at this time, due to an extensive length of time it is believed the body has been outside. JPD detectives will continue to work with the Alaska Medical Examiners Office on identifying the body.
JPD will continue to provide updates on this investigation as they become available.
All factual allegations contained in this release are based upon preliminary investigation and are subject to change or clarification as the investigation continues. Any charges reported in this release are merely accusations and all persons named in this release are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.